The softer side of a hardnosed credit expert
One of four children, Valerie Van de Zilver was born and raised in Northern Indiana. As a child, she studied elocution and won her first talent contest at age eight. She also took piano lessons and participated in talent contests around the state. Valerie still has an ear for music, although she recognized soon enough that she had another calling: “While I still play the piano, my true gift is speaking and sales,” she admits.
Her sales training began early. She earned money for church camp by selling homemade chocolate chip cookies door to door. “I discovered as a teenager that if I worked I could have nice things, and so I did,” she says. “One summer I worked three jobs and saved up enough money to buy a car and move to California.”
Her customers in Orange County are glad she made the move. It’s mutual: “I love my work and my customers,” she says. “I’m a passionate advocate for my customers, which is one reason why they stay with me forever. Much of my business is repeat customers and their referrals. I stay in touch with them regularly, and take about 250 of them and their families to an Angels baseball game every summer. I’ve been doing that since the days when Gene Autry owned the team. I love getting offers accepted, selling homes, helping people obtain favorable mortgage loans, improving my clients’ credit scores, negotiating with banks and creditors, and solving credit-related problems.”
Valerie is a respected community leader in Newport Beach, California. She’s on the Board of Counselors of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and serves on its Governing Committee. She also co-chairs the Pacific Coast Wine Festival and serves on the Board of Directors of KidSingers, an inner-city youth choir.